Dateline 30^th April 2016

 NRFC 1 Sukhothai 3

The visitors today were the Fire Bats from Sukhothai. The newly promoted Sukhothai have made an encouraging start to their first TPL campaign.

In front of a disappointing crowd - maybe 8-10 000 (hardly surprising considering the Swatcats early season performances) the opening 20 minutes were devoid of any major incidents or chances of note.

In the 21^st minute a Malek snap shot had the visitor’s keeper on the hop then Tagbajumi blazed over from 12 yards. Minutes later under pressure from Tagbajumi, a Sukhothai headed own goal gave the hosts the lead.

34 minutes in and some neat passing football culminated in a Lindemann drive soaring over the bar. The hosts now seem to be gaining momentum and another sweet forward move resulted in a long range shot.

In a defensive disaster in the 43^rd minute, the host’s keeper failed to control a tame back pass and an alert Sukhothai forward pounced to tap the ball into an empty net.

In a half when the visitors offered little up front, the Swatcats, despite not setting the world on fire, looked the better side. Sukhothai look very poor and anything but a Swatcats win tonight would be a disappointment.

The second half started with both teams trading tame attacking moves but in the 63^rd minute a Bireme rocket cannoned off the crossbar after some good work on the flank from Biaggio.

Local hero Prompong replaced Malek in the 73^rd minute and in the 81st minute in a rare foray forward, an unmarked Bireme headed Sukhothai ahead. Biaggio added a third in the 93rd minute to complete a disappointing evening for the hosts.

The team is not playing badly but does not seem to be able to put teams away. With attendances dwindling and our home form crumbling, this could be a long season ahead - an improvement on last year’s 8^th place seems a world away.

I’m not sure what is going wrong at the moment but there seems to be little service provided for the strikers. Also the fact that one week it’s Adeyeah up front and the next it’s Tagbajumi hardly provides much continuity or confidence for either player.

On present performances a relegation battle is looming…how long before the call for Kambe’s head!!!

Dateline 27^th April 2016

 Si Saket 1 NRFC 0

NRFC visited the home of the Kouprey Warriors in this Isaan Derby game hoping to add to their early season point’s total. The Swatcats started without Nagano, Lindemann and Tagbajumi with Adeyeah up front. Former Swatcat favourite Ivan Boscovic figured for the home team

The Koupreys opened brightly with a period of pressure culminating in a long range shot saved well by the visitor’s keeper. The Swatcats countering with a glancing header from Adeyeah in the 9^th minute.

A solo effort from Adeyeah then had the keeper scampering as the visitors eased themselves into the game – the Ghanean minutes later being flattened by a flying boot to the face.

The visitors grew in confidence and put some useful attacking moves together with one culminating in a dangerous cross being tipped over the bar but in a half of few genuine chances, honours were about even – Adeyeah’s sharpness may ultimately be the difference between the teams.

The second half came to life with a snap shot from the home team in the 48^th minute but as in the first half chances were few and far between. The Swatcats increasingly showed some signs of dominance as the half progressed with the hosts not posing much of a threat.

A sharp header from a corner in the 76^th minute broke the deadlock to put the hosts one up.

As the game drew to a close a great solo run Adeyeah ended when he flicked his shot feet wide. Minutes later, Adeyeah again made the keeper work with a snap shot from 14 yards. In what was now becoming the Adeyeah show he again shot wide then was inches wide with a header as the visitors searched for an equalizer.

Adeyeah looked lively but isolated up front often being covered by 3 defenders. I would love to see him operate with a second main striker. The way the team is playing is hardly inspiring and goals again seem to be at a premium. With no consistent selections up front, we seem to have run out of attacking ideas.

On balance the Swatcats deserved a point tonight being slightly unlucky to concede the winning goal – the defence looked in control most of the time but Si Saket were pretty ordinary and we will face far greater challenges in forthcoming matches.

Dateline 24^th April NRFC 0 Chonburi Sharks 0

NRFC hosted the Sharks from Chonburi, In front of a crowd of some 13 000 plus. The home fans hoping that the Swatcats could "squish the fish".

In a rather uninspiring opening 20 minutes, neither side was able to muster a real chance with a Lindemann drive and a further 20 yard shot from Athibordee being the only moments of tepid excitement.

Noah Chivuta nearly broke the deadlock on 21 minutes with a fierce shot but in truth there was precious little service provided for a lively Tagbajumi. At the other end Chonburi failed to produce much themselves up front.

 In the 46^th minute Tagbajumi fired in a fine cross shot which was superbly pushed past the post by the keeper – a rare touch of class in the match so far.

With the hosts having slightly more possession, no real pattern of play materialized from either side as the first half drew to a close.

In the second half The Swatcats attacked brightly, searching for a breakthrough and in the 54^th minute Noah Chivuta was replaced by Adeyeah. A 59^th minute Lindemann shot stung the keeper’s hands as the home side again dominated possession.

 Assumpsao fired in a curling shot in a rare foray forward by the Sharks and Lindemann shot just wide after some smart work from Adeyeah as both sides searched for a winner. As the Swatcats pressed with Adeyeah adding a new dimension up front, a near post shot went close and then at the death, The Sharks nearly poached all 3 points with a stinging shot going narrowly wide in the 93^rd minute.

Chances considered, this was not a bad performance. The Swatcats will have to somehow up their game if they are to battle for a top 10 finish.  Whilst a point against one of the better teams in the TPL is not a disaster, there is certainly no need to panic yet of course.

In reality there are 5 or 6 teams who are probably going to finish below them, but it will be a disappointment after last year's 8th place for the club to be mixing it at the wrong end of the table. I am not sure where the goals are going to come from. Worse for me is the fear that after 2 home defeats, a rather squeaky win and a goalless draw, the fans will shun the team....and I'm afraid that a Swatcat team without the advantage of the usual massive home support will really be up against it.

Dateline 2^nd April 2016

 Ratchaburi 2 NRFC 0

The Swatcats entered the Dragon’s den hoping to secure an improbable point or three.

The match began with Heberty coming close with a drive in the first minute and from the resulting corner a header was clearly handled on the line but no penalty was awarded. A further drive was cleared off the line as the Dragons pressed for an early advantage.

In the 5^th minute a curling shot from Heberty was brilliantly saved as the visitors strived to survive the early onslaught.

With the Swatcats seemingly unable to maintain any real possession, Ratchaburi attacked in waves – surely a goal must come soon - I am detecting a worrying trend – we are making all our opponents look good!!!

Heberty again went close in the 21^st minute and seconds later he shaved the post with a 20 yard free kick. This is the worst 30 minutes of play that I have experienced from a recent Swatcat side – I cannot remember a series of more than 2 passes put together by the team.

As Ratchaburi pressed, a header went close for the home team who should by now be 4 or 5 goals up – this is getting embarrassing.

Heberty was again denied a goal by a smart save from a 20 yard free kick in the 25^th minute and minutes later a close range chance was spurned as 2 attackers clashed.

In the 36^th minute the visitors finally put 3 passes together but to no effect as Ratchaburi again stormed forward. A raid forward resulted in a goal for the home side but it was ruled offside then

in the 41^st minute the inevitable goal came from the ever dangerous Heberty with a classy curling drive.

I have rarely seen such a one sided half of football……. but the Swatcats are unbelievably still in it at 1-0!!!!

I am not sure what can be done but surely coach Kambe must make some personnel or tactical changes otherwise Ratchaburi are going to score a shedload of goals.

The second half commenced with the visitors unable to hold onto the ball and the home team pressing. In the 52^nd minute the excellent Heberty was injured and was unable to continue. The Dragons went 2 up with a smart goal in the 61^st minute as the Swatcats continued to misfire in midfield.

In the 65^th minute in NRFC’s first meaningful attack Malek struck the post after good work from Tagbajumi and minutes later the home team themselves struck the post from a 10 yard shot.

In the 75^th minute Noah Chivuta hit the bar with a rasping drive as the visitors started edging back into the game and Lindemann drew a good save from the home keeper in the 89^th minute but in reality the visitors did not deserve a goal tonight.

An improved second half performance but not much to be positive about tonight - here’s hoping that they have got this poor performance out of their system. 4 defeats and 2 wins so far is not an auspicious start but admittedly 3 of our defeats have been against top teams.